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Hello to the group
Posted: 14 Sep 2025 05:50
by kgilmore
Long time reader, first time poster. I was an Atari user (1040FM, then 520STe upgraded to 4 MB, then a Falcon) but drifted away and am now a dedicated Mac user. Still have the Falcon but while it boots up it doesn’t recognise floppy and hard drive so there’s a bit of work there to get it up and running and upgraded to make it useable.
In passing, given that I thought Atari made a mistake in not releasing the Mega ST with a 68020 and sockets for 68851 and 68881 and a fully 32 bit internal bus, I wonder if anyone has ever tried to design an alternative Mega ST along those lines more as a proof of concept as to what could have been? I have tried looking on eBay for 68851s but they’re almost impossible to find.
Re: Hello to the group
Posted: 14 Sep 2025 07:33
by mrbombermillzy
Welcome @kgilmore :)
You never know. Someone may have thought of this already.
I think AlanH was designing a 68020 board for the Mega ST. Not sure it had math co-pro as well though.
Re: Hello to the group
Posted: 14 Sep 2025 08:57
by HigashiJun
kgilmore wrote: 14 Sep 2025 05:50
I have tried looking on eBay for 68851s but they’re almost impossible to find.
I know a shop here in Tokyo where they still have a stock of 39 units of XC68851RC16A.
They cost less than £15 each, postal fees not included.
Re: Hello to the group
Posted: 14 Sep 2025 10:49
by rubber_jonnie
:welcomewave:
Re: Hello to the group
Posted: 14 Sep 2025 10:54
by HigashiJun
And of course, welcome to this great forum !
Re: Hello to the group
Posted: 14 Sep 2025 12:13
by DoG
mrbombermillzy wrote: 14 Sep 2025 07:33
I think AlanH was designing a 68020 board for the Mega ST. Not sure it had math co-pro as well though.
I wonder if that became the
MonSTerbo? It has a 68020. It got socket for FPU as well. But it's for the STe.
Re: Hello to the group
Posted: 14 Sep 2025 13:12
by mrbombermillzy
DoG wrote: 14 Sep 2025 12:13
mrbombermillzy wrote: 14 Sep 2025 07:33
I think AlanH was designing a 68020 board for the Mega ST. Not sure it had math co-pro as well though.
I wonder if that became the
MonSTerbo? It has a 68020. It got socket for FPU as well. But it's for the STe.
He was actually intending to make the MonSTerbo for the Mega ST too, but now it seems he is being pulled in all directions with different plans, so this has probably dropped down the 'to do' list. :(
IIRC there was going to be an accelerated Megabus or something along those lines.